Downshifting our auto trannies

Does anyone know if dowshifting our auto transmissions to assist in slowing down, is going to do any harm? I would think it's OK, but not sure. I have an 08 crew cab PreRunner 4.0.........

 

There has been many a discussion on this, and it should not hurt a thing. Alot of people do it.

 

It's never hurt my truck, just make sure you are shifting to a gear appropriate for your speed. Like, don't throw it into L at 55mph.

 

By looking at the way they designed the plate that the shift knob sits in, it's almost as if they meant for you to be manually shifting gears on the fly. I also do not think the computer would allow for it to be thrown into too low of a gear at too high of a speed.

 

It's good to use for going downhills etc. If you live in hilly terrain it really saves your brakes. If you know what burning brakes smells like after going down a hill, you'd use the downshifts. I do it when I am coming upto a light but I give myself enough space to use it and not use my brakes as often. I found that gear down in other vehicles I've owned that is has made the brakes have a longer life. I make sure that I am doing it under 60 km's an hour. I wouldn't suggest doing 100 km/h and slamming it into "L" or "2". It shouldn't do any damage.

 

I don't know if the computer would let you shift too far down or not, but I'm not willing to try it and find out, either. If you're close to redlining you're in the wrong gear. Hit your brakes firmly, slow quickly to a good speed. Riding the brakes down a hill is what burns them out.

 

ANY vehicle will not shift into a lower gear for the appropriate speed. The transmission control module will not turn on the solenoid until the proper speed is appropriate. You are just using a Set of over running clutches when you use this. It will do NO harm to you transmission at all. The only time I have ever seen a transmission take a dump because of the user using this feature, was because he was also towing a 28 foot boat in behind him through the mountains of Alaska. This is why the invited TRAILER BREAKS for. I took the transmission out, replaced those 4 clutches and steels, reconditioned the 3-4 and reverse clutch pack. And they where on there way. Was not that bad of a thing to do

 

Yup, I do it all the time.

Makes me look like a ricer

 

Lol^^hes a ricer

 

When coming to a stop sign from 55+ I shift from D - 4 - 3 all the time. The computer controlled transmission will not allow you to downshift in a manner that will harm the truck. Your face is a different story: be careful if you shift into L while on the move. The truck will try to pitch you through the windshield.

 

In our Auto 4Runner coming down the mountain passes around here, especially around Killington, I drop to 3 at the crest of the hills, it keeps me right around 55 the whole way down without using the brakes. I see lots of cars ahead of me with their brakes on most of the way, I am glad to be saving my brakes for when I really need them.

 

What about coasting down a hill in N for better mileage is that harmful

 

It's actually better to descend a hill in gear. With the transmission turning the engine on a downhill run, the computer will shut down the injectors and you will be rolling along using ZERO fuel, instead of using enough fuel to keep the engine idling if you were coasting in neutral.

 

interesting.. how does the engine continue firing without any fuel going thru the injectors tho?

 

Since the computer already downshifts while coming to a stop anyway, you won't do any further harm doing it manually.

 

I have been doing it since the truck was new and in my 04 Audi A4 and never had a problem. the Audi actually loves being shifted manually

 

It's fine

Deja vu this thread

 

Is it safe to downshift while ATRAC is active?